Boat propulsion.



J. R. WALTERl `BOAT'PROPULSIONl APPLIO'ATION FILED MAY 20,'1911.`

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH R. WALTER, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BOAT PROPULSION.

To all 'whom 'it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH R. WALTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Boat Propulsion, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to boats and co-nsists of a novel arrangement of drums adapted to float the vessel and at the same time to furnish means for moving same when they are rotated, the drums carrying paddles which, at a certain stage of their rotation, are adapted to collapse so as to be inoperative and offer no'impediment to the movement of the vessel, as will be more fully described in the following specification, set forth in the claims and illustrated in the drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved boat. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the paddles.

\ The vessel may comprise a frame 5 forming part of the body of the boat which may be of the usual shape and suitable dimensions, and on cross beams 6 is a platform 7 on which is mounted the motor 8, having a pulley 9 to drive the rotating drums.

Depending from the frame 5 are brackets 10 in which are journaled the shafts 11, carrying hollow drums 12, which float the frame in case no other structure is provided. The rear shaft is provided with a. pulley 13 which is driven by the pulley 9 through the medium of a belt 14 and this rear sha-ft also carries the sprocket wheel 15 connected with a similar wheel on the forward shaft by means of the chain 16 so that when power is supplied to one shaft, a corresponding motion is given the other shaft, and the drums 12 move in unison. Each drum is provided with a series of paddles 17 hinged to the drum at 18 and vhaving a rearwardly extending arm to limit its rear movement while striking the water. To a stud 2O projecting from the arm 19, is connected a spring 21 to normally hold the blade 17 in its operative position. After the paddle has performed its additional work and is about to move in an upward direction, it is desirable that the same should be rendered inoperative so that resistance may not be offered to the movement set up by the paddle blades, and in order to accomplish this purpose, cam-rings 22 are secured to the Specification of Letters Patent.`

Application filed May 20, 1911.

Athe boat in one direction only.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Serial No. 628,478.

frame 5 and the ends of the blades travel wit-hin these rings and on their upward movement are closed by means of contact with the inner surface of the rings as shown in Fig. 2. Thus as the drum revolves, the paddle blades are successively opened and closed by the springs and rings so that they may perform their function of propelling Each drum is provided with a set of these cam-rings 22, and the wear is on the edge of the blade where it is reduced to a minimum and the rings are braced to the frame by Ameans of over-hanging rods 23. At the outer ends of the shafts 11 are wheels 24 of greater diameter than the drums so the device may be transported by them when on land, power being also given them from the motor as above described.

This device affords a simple and compact means for combining means for propelling a boat on water or land, and when used as a boat, a rudder 25 may be provided and operated by means of the cross bar 26 within reach of the operator and on the platform 7.

It is obvious that the parts may be otherwise arranged and modied without departing from the essential features above described.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

1. In a boat, the combination with a frame carrying a motor, of shafts journaled in the frame, hollow drums on the shafts, curved paddle blades conforming to the curvature of the drums and pivotally connected to the same, and means for kfolding the blades onto the drums on their upward movement.

2. In a boat, the combination with a frame carrying a motor, shafts journaled in the frame, driving means connect-ing the motor with the shafts, hollow drums on the shafts, wheels at the ends of the shafts, hinged blades on the drums, springs elevating the blades, and cam-rings carried by the frame and operating on the ends of the blades to close them.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH E. WALTER.

Witnesses:

JAMES F. DUHAMEL, CHARLES LA RUE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 

